Words can't even explain it

Where to begin?? Carbohydrates was the theme of the week. I paid extra attention to make sure that I got a fair serving of some carbs for lunch and dinner the entire week. On Thursday Laura and I went to pick up our kits and discovered that they put your name on the back of them. From running in the past, I have found it is nice to have a name so that bystanders can cheer for anyone. Makes you feel extra special too. We woke up early on Saturday as we were planning on a 10 p.m. bedtime. I met Laura at the Marathon Expo so we could be first in line for the free massages. I got a few of the knots worked out of my shoulders and then it was off to barrio chino for a carb-filled lunch with the boys. Fede left to play soccer, but called me twice within an hour to find out exactly where I was. This was after he knew what my plan was. I couldn't figure out what he was up to, but knew I needed to be home so I assumed he had ordered a flower delivery or something. Boy was I wrong! I hung up the phone with him as I entered the elevator of my building only to exit the elevator to find my Dad standing at my doorstep. WHAT A SURPRISE!! I couldn't believe it! He and I went to dinner that night for more carbs (bet you didn't guess that) only to get caught in the middle of a rainstorm. The past week I had been checking the forecast repetitively only to see a picture of a rain cloud. The rain continued throughout the night, but when I woke up at 5:50 the next morning the raindrops were gone. As the sun wasn't up yet I couldn't check the sky, but it was 60°F so not bad at all. I rapidly got dressed, got Fede moving and we were off to pick up my Dad.

We found a place to park and started walking towards the starting line. I spoke with Martin and Laura several times, but we were unable to find each other amongst the thousands there. I put my number and chip on while Dad pinned the picture of Grandma on my back. One last trip to the bathroom and the countdown was on the loudspeaker. I gave a quick hug to both of my followers and squeezed through the fence to join the crowd on the starting line. Slowly the mob moved forward until we were feet in front of the line and we began our jog.

The first several miles were a blur. There was excitement from so many: runners, bystanders, helpers and anyone else that happened to be nearby. People talked as the passed you or as you passed them. A few asked me who was on my back and I gladly told them. Within about 30 minutes of running, it started to rain lightly. You know you are running with other crazy people when everyone starts to cheer loudly the minute rain hits their heads. It was a refreshing feeling as humidity was causing us to sweat like crazy anyway. We passed the Casa Rosada (their White House) and had tango dancers there to cheer us on. Shortly there after I was elbowed by a woman, which caused my watch to stop. As I hadn't noticed for a few minutes and I wasn't sure exactly when it stopped I lost all track I had of my pace. My initial thought was that the cheap watch I bought had died in the rain, but thankfully it still had life in it. I was getting ready to get to 14K as that was the first pitstop for Dad and Fede. I passed it and continued for the next few kilometers with no sign of them. I figured they had gotten stuck on cut off street or hadn't calculated for my speedy pace as I was going faster than I had planned. Either way, I knew they'd catch up with me in the end. I saw them as I rounded the corner coming out of Boca. Dad was ready with the camera and Fede had a banana in one hand and gel in the other. He ran a few steps with me and asked how I was before I continued on my way. The halfway point was feet away. I crossed that and was able to reset my watch to know I was still ahead of schedule. I was getting hungry so I grabbed a few oranges and sucked their juice to see if that would help. If nothing else, it confused my mind for a bit. I ran into my fans again at 28K and grabbed another gel off Fede. As I wasn't quite ready for it I stuck it in my pants and continued forward. The hunger was setting in after that as the gels give me energy, but don't fill my stomach. So at 30K I grabbed a banana and water. Ever tried eating half a banana while running? It's much more difficult than I would have thought. I tried to balance between water and adding more banana and finally got it down. Followed it quickly with my gel pack. I was set. A few more steps down the road I burped loudly after ingesting so much on the run and it worked out for the best. It allowed me to make friends. I found my running buddy, Ivan, that would help me to get to the finish line. We talked a little, but mostly just used each other for the pace. It was his first marathon as well so we were both just wanting to cross the finish line. I passed the fan club one last time around 35K to give another smile and continue on my way. The sun came out and it became a beautiful day. The last 10K seemed to take forever. I kept looking and looking for the next marker, but they seemed to be coming much slower than before even though I was going at the same pace. I could see where the course was going and kept wondering how many more turns I had before I got there. I also teared up a few times just thinking that I was almost there, but refused to cry as I knew that meant my breathing would cease as I knew it. I then turned the corner on 40K to see Meghan and Danny walking up the course. I waved at them and moved little by little closer to the line. I crossed 41K and the crowd grew with every step. A few more steps and the arch "Llegada" was in sight. My running buddy and I picked up the pace and crossed the finish line sprinting. After 4 hours and 16 minutes, I had finished my first marathon. An amazing experience and a feeling that I don't want to go away. I know that I trained hard for 4 months and it all came down to a 4 hour mind-over-matter battle. The minute you cross that line you know that it's all been worth it and you can get past anything if you put your mind to it.

I met up with Dad, Fede, Laura, Martin, Meghan and Danny at the end and tried to explain it. My legs were very wobbly and my joints felt like I had suddenly turned 70, but it was so worth it.

Last day of training

Ready or not, it's almost here. The day is getting closer and closer. Tomorrow we get to pick up our shirts and kits and it's another step to the starting line. I went out for my 3 miles and kept imagining what it's going to be like. I wonder as I haven't run long mileage in so long if I'm really ready. I wonder if speed will be an issue. I wonder if I'll hit the wall. I wonder where I should strategically place Fede to get my gel and banana if necessary. I wonder what it'll feel like to cross the line. It's all over now so I hope it all pays off.

Getting it on the books

As I had run yesterday I knew that I wasn't going to be running my hardest today. More than anything it's my final week of training so there's no skipping, especially when it's a short one like 3 miles. It turned out that I ran it in a total of 31 minutes, a record slow time for me. Yet I took it for what is was as I just needed the mileage and nothing more. One more day of training and then the home stretch...

This time next week...

Today was the last of my runs of any real distance. I woke up to a text from Laura saying, "In 7 days' time..." It's so hard to believe that it's almost here. I want it to arrive and before I know it I'll be at the starting line. So I set out on my 8 miles on the course that used to be my regular Wednesday run. It was a beautiful day and everyone was out enjoying it. The amount of parked cars near the parks was amazing...and then I saw the amount of people in the parks. I have never seen that many people there. People were out roller skating, biking, walking or just having a picnic in near the lake. And lucky me got to weave in and out of the people. It felt like a true obstacle course as I was dodging people that looked like they were ready to fall and others that were oblivious to those around them. I finished my 2 laps and headed home. Finished at another great pace, 8:49 min/mile. Looks like my legs are getting fresher by the day and are ready for this.

I also had a suicide fly go directly into my eye. Luckily it was easy to get out, but it's quite an interesting feeling having it slam into the corner of your eye.

Lively laps

I passed up my scheduled Thursday run so I could have lemon pie with friends. A good decision in my opinion. But that meant I needed to get my 3 miles in on Friday instead. As I normally go to yoga I thought I would do them both. So I popped into the studio to change quickly before doing 4 laps around the park in front. I knew I had a little less than 30 minutes, but I assumed I would be able to get in under that. As I turns out, I was going super fast and did it in 25 minutes, which rounded off to about a 8:30 min/mile. I even passed my yoga professor on her way to class. She later told me I needed to do it the other way around so I can give it my all in the yoga class, but she obviously doesn't see where my priorities are. :)

Against the wind

I had 5 on the schedule and was ready to get back out and see if those weights were gone. Thankfully I didn't feel like I was moving backwards, but there was a wind that came out of nowhere. As I turned around the lake there was one side that forced me to put my head down and push forward. The same thing happened as I turned the last corner to head up the incline home. It was like a slap in the face as I was trying to give it my all. I finished and couldn't complain about my time so the wind became just another one of the many obstacles to get me thinking about anything other than my running.

Did someone put weights in my shoes?

On the first of my shortest run in ages, I was thrilled to have only 3 miles. That meant I would be out and back before I knew it. There was only one thing stopping me, the weights that someone put in my shoes. Oh, I wish I had that excuse. I ran at almost the pace that I plan to run for the marathon, which is slow in my books for the distance I went. Maybe my body is just preparing itself for that pace? Highly unlikely, but I'll test it out again on Wednesday. Hopefully it was just an off day.

Getting my life back

For the past 2 months I have been moving around my Saturday and sometimes even my Friday night activities to accommodate my running schedule. When you think about having to wake up at least an hour earlier than the run to eat and prepare (which takes more time the longer you run), then getting in a 2-3 hour run and the recovery period (which depends very much on the day), it can feel like it takes away an entire day. This Saturday was the first of my tapering, which meant I had 9 miles on my schedule. Ha, what a breeze! And yes, my brain is slowing being altered by this amount of running. So I thoroughly enjoyed the sun with a picnic on the waterfront before pounding pavement. I think the salami and cheese affected my running, but it was worth feeling like my weekend lasted longer.

New music?

For the past months I have had more or less the same music on my mp3 player. I add a few new ones, but changes aren't made often. But what amazes me is that almost every run I find a new song. This obviously means that I go off into some far off land while running and block out everything. It kind of makes me wonder why I have the music there in the first place yet I would be lost without it. So as I did my 8 miles I enjoyed both the old and the "new" songs to keep me going. Wonder what surprises are tucked in there for the actual race??

Crazy weather

I used to always think that Texas had crazy weather, but maybe it just follows me. Having had a week of summer in the dead of winter and other highs and lows, it never seems to amaze me. Today I had to get in 6 miles and it just happened to be another rainy one. Luckily it had stopped by the time I was on my way out, but it was in the 40's again. My teeth even felt the cold when I started. This a mere day after Spring Day where it was in the high 70's and even warranted a picnic at lunch. Luckily it wasn't as cold as that one morning when I went out.

I also spent some time picturing the starting line. Each day it becomes more of a reality that I'm actually doing this. But it gets me really excited to think about what it will actually be like. One foot in front of the other for hours until the finish line arch is in front of me and hopefully I'll still have the energy to smile.

Hardest part (of training) is DONE!

I honestly can't believe it. I have just run 20 miles. For 3 hours and 27 minutes I was constantly running. I suppose I knew this day would come, but to have completed it has given me an amazing feeling. I decided to do a Sunday run as I was going to join a half marathon, but discovered it was cancelled this morning. So I mapped out my miles and got to stepping. Leaving before 9AM meant that I was going to have the streets to myself for at least an hour. I even passed a few people that were on their way home from the night before. The first 10 miles seemed to fly by. I had some discomforts, but I'll take that any day over true pain. I got into the Reserva and had my gel. I was trying to balance out the amount I was drinking, but I was getting really thirsty. I had bundled up as it was cold in the morning, but it was warming up by the minute. I then took a wrong turn and ended up outside of the Reserva sooner than planned, but it all happens for a reason right? Parallel to me was a 15K going on and they were handing out water. I was seriously thinking of jumping onto the course and grabbing one of their bottles or even picking one up off the ground that someone had thrown down as I was really thirsty. I knew I had to ration what I had so I was looking for other options. Then I saw a lonely, unopened bottled on the ground. I crossed their course and took it along with me. I guzzled almost the entire bottle during my next mile. I actually thought I was going to get a stomach ache after so much water, but it was just what I needed. I knew I only had 5 more miles and I was going to make it. I passed Martin at his stakeout and continued on my way. Picked up the pace and was trying to finish in 3:25. Unfortunately I didn't make it, but I still am in shock that I actually did it so I'm okay with that. As Laura's been saying, "What's another 6 miles?" I think I finally agree with her. I'm ready for this!

Rain drops keep falling on my head

I got back to the door of my apartment building and there was a guy walking out who let me in. He looked at me confused and asked if I had actually been running in the rain. It was true. I had debated not doing it, but as it wasn't too cold I figured I could handle it. I only had 4 miles so I'd be back in no time. The best part about running in the rain is you don't have to worry about dodging people on the sidewalks. Few people dare leave their homes when it rains in this city. It's even an excuse to not go to the office. But my dedication got me out there to get in one final run before the frightening TWENTY I have on Sunday.

Mental or physical training?

As I head out for my 8 miles, I begin to think about the whole training process. Here I am in the middle of the week with the most mileage and wonder what this training is really for. At this point, there is no question as to whether my legs or lungs will make it to the finish line. (Knock on wood) They may have their moments, but I know they'll be there through it all. The question is whether my mind will be there or not. I've come to the realization that this isn't about running, it's about mind over matter. The long runs are a test for the real deal when you don't want to go another step, but convince yourself there is no giving in now. It's having hit the wall several times in the months previous and knowing that if you got past it then you sure aren't throwing in the towel on race day. As one foot goes in front of the other and I finish what's allotted for me I think I finally see the bigger picture. How mentally tough am I?

Purple Toe

I noticed the other night as I looked down at my feet that one toenail was a little discolored. Upon closer investigation I realized that the toe that had hurt a couple weeks ago while running was now bruised. Luckily there is no pain unless I manage to hit it just the right way, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the nail doesn't fall off or at least waits until after Oct. 11th.

Regardless, I got my 5 miles in. It still feels like nothing to hop out for a 45 minute run these days. My Mom reminded me the other day how much I used to hate to run cross country in high school and now look at me. These "short" distances are a piece of cake.

It all pays off

I just kept thinking "this is the second-to-last long one" as I prepared and got out the door. With the mile markers on my hand, I was determined to shave off a few minutes from last week. I was pleasantly surprised to find the bridge open and carried down my preplanned route. I got hungry about mile 8, which has been an issue during long runs but I didn't want to drink too much as last week the last mile was greeted by stomach pains. I had my gel at mile 10 and was feeling a little better. Then as I was about to exit the Reserva I see a couple of familiar faces. I waved as I passed Meghan and Danny and picked up the pace a bit. It must have been my lucky day as there are more faces to follow: I went by Laura and we exchanged high fives while others looked our way due to our loud excitement and then gave a spook to Martin as I passed him at his water station. I made it to the home stretch and although I was tired I wasn't exhausted. I was able to sprint the end and walk more like my age afterwards. My recovery time was minutes instead of lying on the floor for minutes and minutes. It was a really good feeling and showed me that the training does pay off. I shaved about 15 seconds off my pace, which amounts to a lot when you think about 18 miles. All-in-all it was a great run and I can't believe that this will all be over in a month.

A peak of Argentina

I grabbed my "new" watch and was ready to walk out the door. I looked down and realized that the battery had died. I had found it rather curious that one watch had died while the saleswoman was trying to show me what was for sale so I was adamant about a warranty. I was told that if it died within a week I could take it back. So I popped in to give them a visit. After minutes of arguing that there is no warranty, that sweat must have done the job and the man finally admitting that he is selling and will continue to sell lies, I grabbed my new "new" watch and started pounding pavement. I was going for 30 minutes as I don't want tired legs on Saturday. About halfway into it, I have a waiter turn and say "Hola" to me as if I'm going to stop running to have a conversation with him. Then as I walked the block home I had another guy get in my face to say "linda." Are these guys oblivious to the fact that I'm sweaty and disgusting? But without these things a run is just a run so I have to appreciate the things that spice it up.

New Running Club?

I was to get in my 8 miles and was thinking about how great I felt after last week as I had been moving faster. I did my roundabout way to get to the Bosques and was about halfway around when there were 5 people lining up. I passed them thinking nothing until they passed me going just a tad bit faster. So I pseudo joined their running club as they worked their way around and around. The coach gave me a few odd looks as I was hanging close, but I figured he couldn't kick me out of a group I wasn't a part of. It was good entertainment as well because my battery had died so my headphones were only for show. I made it back and looked at my watch: seconds faster than the week before. I was super excited...until I compared it with my map and realized that I forgot a few blocks. A minor detail in the whole scheme of things.

Back to 3

I decided to get back to the schedule and put in 3 runs during the week. As with most Monday's I sat on the couch watching Friends while procrastinating. I know it's just 45 minutes, but I like to wait for just the right moment. It has gotten cold again so I was back with the gloves and ear warmer. It didn't take long for me to take off the gloves, but they were necessary to get me out of the door. I set out on the 5 miles and was back in a flash.

Stage complete

After last week, there was no way I was going to stop and walk. So I had it ingrained in my head that I was going to finish with the 17 miles behind me. I wrote the mile markers on my hand so I could gauge my time a bit more and got on my way. I was glad to see that the weeklong rain had subsided and that it was cooler than last week. I got to the infamous bridge only to find it closed for construction, but worked my way around it. I knew Laura was going to be running more or less at the same time so I was keeping my eye out. Around mile 14 as I was knocking them down, we crossed paths. It put a bit of pep in my step although I could tell that she was fresh and I was a bit jealous. I made it to Santa Fe to hit the light and made a turn as there was no stopping with just 2 blocks to go. I finished, happy with myself, sucking down the rest of my water and hobbling like an 80-year-old woman. As I had turned off my path I had further to walk home, but I took a break in a park to down a gatorade with hopes that my joints would return to their proper age. It was a successful run and one that was needed to keep me motivated.

Sucked the life out of it

As I prepared for my 5 miles, I picked up my watch to see it was staring blankly at me. It has had a rough life and has survived quite a bit of moisture, but its death shocked me. I was not prepared for such an event. This meant I was hitting the streets with no way to gauge my pace. I did pay attention to the songs so I think I can go back and calculate a rough estimate if I really want to know.

The highlight of my run would be the look of the guys face as I clapped to get his attention while crossing the street. Crossing Libertador is always a complicated situation as it is 14 lanes wide. I was in the middle of the crosswalk and knew that the guy didn’t see me as he was turning so as I stood in the path of his car I clapped loudly to get his attention. He looked straight at me, slowed his car and gave me a look like I was doing something wrong yet I wouldn’t expect anything else in this city full of crazy drivers.

Speedy Gonzalez

After what I consider an unsuccessful run on Saturday, I decided to move things around a bit this week to see what would happen. Instead of running on Mon, Wed & Thurs, I decided to go with only 2 runs and do Tues and Thurs. So I went out and started my 8 miles. I got about 5 blocks before my knee was killing me. I hobbled for a few blocks before the pain subsided and I continued on my way. I really didn’t want to stop as I had already had 2 days off. As I was doing my first loop around the lake, I felt like I got to the other side fast yet I assumed I had been thinking too intensely to notice what I was doing. When I finished and looked at my watch, I realized it was actually because I had been running faster. I ran an 8:41 min/mile, which is a HUGE step up. I couldn’t believe it! I knew I had been pushing myself, but didn’t think I would actually finish so quickly. Exactly the motivation I need to keep me going.

Giving in

I started my run in the wrong mindset. I had tired legs during the week and immediately “knew” that I was going to suffer during my 16 mile trek. It could have been those pre-run thoughts, the 90°F weather or my body, but I didn’t make it the whole way running. Around mile 9 I really started thinking about why I torture myself. I kept telling myself that if I get out of the Reserva things will start looking up as it means I’m headed home. The mental battle that ensued for the next hour was a tough one. I even had a young boy yell at me, “Más rápido! Vamos despacita!” If I had the energy, I would have turned around and screamed at him but he got lucky. I got to the unpredictable bridge to find cars were turning their engines on to cross again. I made the decision to not wait and just ran. The navy guys stared at me and didn’t say a word as I crossed and continued on my way. As I was struggling, I convinced myself to run for 2 hours and 40 mins, which would have been 16 miles at a 10 min/mile pace. As I was running slower, I think I only got to about 15 before I walked 4 blocks and then made myself go again. Although I finished I still feel like I gave in as I had to stop and wasn’t happy with myself afterwards. I’m going to have to rethink things before next week.

Halfway mark

As of today, I have run half of the total mileage I will run after I finish the marathon. I’m gone 204 miles in just over 33 hours. It’s crazy to think that the race is in 6 and a half weeks and I’m going to get another 200+ miles in that amount of time. I think scary is a better word. This event was also marked by the return of Running Club as Laura is back from England. We did our separate paths as she had an extra mile, but it was nice to have the high fives and a smiling face to see as we ran around the port.

Pacesetter

I headed to the Bosques de Palermo in a roundabout way to get a bit more mileage in before doing my 2 laps. I had 8 on the schedule and was surprised by the amount of people there. On my first lap, I managed to find a guy that was running just a little quicker than me. So I passed him and then was determined to not let him pass me. I kept him on my heels, but it gave me that extra push to make myself go faster. At times I thought he was going to pass me, but I prevailed and got my 2 laps in while keeping him behind me. I was tempted to ask him when he was going to run again so we could do a repeat. Not sure if he was happy with his run, but it worked well for me.

Goose bumps

The other day Laura and I were discussing what our thoughts are while running. I explained that I try to focus on anything other than running to distract me from what I’m doing. She, on the other hand, thinks only about running trying to push herself faster and the ultimate goal of crossing that finish line. I decided to try that on my 5 miler and ended up with goose bumps, but not from the cold. Just thinking about crossing the line and the feeling of knowing what I was going to accomplish was incredible. I can only imagine what it will be like to actual do it.

Detour

I strapped on my CamelBak, taped on my gel pack and was ready to start on my 15 miles. I had decided to go for 15 instead of the 16 on my schedule as it has that for 2 weeks back-to-back. I figured I would continue to build gradually instead of another 2 mile jump last week. I went down to the Costanera Sur again and was making what I felt was great time. I was upbeat and thought that I was on track to possibly run a sub 10 min/mile. I made it to the final bridge crossing to see that all the traffic was stopped. The bridge was just leaving and I thought about running across anyway, but decided against it. I turned around and went to the next bridge and was rethinking my pathway. I decided to finish up Cordoba and would go until 2 hrs 30 mins and would assess the damage later. I was quite thrilled when I mapped out my new course and realized that I did get my 15 in although I think I could have run faster if I hadn’t been stopped and had to turn around.

Rejuvenated

As I hadn’t gotten in a full run since Saturday and got a normal amount of sleep, I was rejuvenated for the 7 miles that was ahead of me. I had mapped a weird plan as I was trying to avoid looping around the lakes various times. Redundancy causes me to think too much, which can cause problems. Yet for these “short” runs I just keep in mind that it’s nothing compared to the real long ones. I finished in a time that pleased me so it made me appreciate my day off even more.

Cold & Wet

After studying for 7 straight hours, commuting to and from and taking the CLEP test, I was exhausted. I fiddled with the idea getting out and doing my 7 miles, but the rain and coldness was very discouraging and added to my desire to curl up and do nothing. After a little thought (it didn't take that long), I decided to take the day off and just do nothing. I think a day of rest is deserved every now and then.

Running to yoga

As it was a holiday today, I had the whole thing planned out. I was going to run before yoga and then get both in without problems. That was until I didn't leave the house until 6:25 and yoga started at 7. I got in about 2 of the 4 miles I needed before I had to go in for class. I felt a bit guilty, but figured I was still doing something so it wasn't that bad. I also died on Saturday so I tried to rationalize that maybe it's not that bad.

WAAAATER!

I mapped out my 14 miles and was a little anxious. From here on out I'm going further than I've ever gone before. As I had run well the week before I wasn't too concerned, but it was still in my head. Out of nowhere, the weather was a sweltering 88ºF and humid. I was excited to not have to bring out the gloves and get to enjoy the change in the weather...until mile 8. By that time I was soaking wet and knew that I wasn't going to be finishing with energy. I was constantly thinking of what was the next marker that I was going to reach before finally seeing the "home-stretch." I was trying to convince myself that it wasn't really that far that I had to go. Around mile 10 I realized that I didn't have enough water and was going to have to start drinking less to make it to the finish with a drop. As I was on the final uphill straightaway, I got stopped by 3 lights, which I have yet to decide if that was a blessing or not. Part of me was relieved to have an excuse to stop moving while the other half just wanted to make it home. I finished in a record slow time and stopped to buy water. The woman asked me 5 questions as to the type of water I wanted before asking with a concerned look, "Are you okay?" I tried to smile as I took the water and guzzled it as people walking by just stared at the sweating and obviously exhausted person.

Late night

I hung around the house as I knew I was going to go for a later run. Fede was off to play soccer so I figured I'd wait until he was gone. I was thinking maybe leaving at 9 or so when I suddenly realized it was 10:30 p.m. I shot out of the house to get my 4 miles in and as you can imagine I didn't see any other runners at that hour. I made it back for dinner and a shower and was more than ready to crawl into bed. Thank goodness I had planned ahead and had dinner waiting for me.

Wrong Direction

I set off on my 6 miles knowing that it was going to be a difficult one. I started Bikram Yoga on Tuesday and muscles that hadn't been used in years were sore. It amazed me that with all the running I am doing that my butt still had muscles in it that weren't being used. I headed off to the Bosques de Palermo and saw a couple girls that ran with their hair down. And I'm not talking about short hair; they both had it halfway down their backs. I think I would run and find scissors if I tried that. While on my first lap I decided to spice things up and go the opposite way around for the second. You wouldn't think that such a minor change would make a difference, but it did. I felt like I was lost and have decided that it was a one and only time thing. No need for mental confusion while trying to focus.

Slight delay

I had the genius idea today of mapping out a run from where I have to go and pay rent. I hopped on the bus with just enough coins to get me there and the money hidden in my armband. I arrived and the woman was so excited to see me that I got wrapped into talking to her for 2 hours and looking at her pictures from her last trip. As incredible as they were, it delayed my plans for the evening. By the time I hit the pavement, it had cooled off quite a bit and I wanted more than the shorts I had put on when the sun was still up. I just clinched my teeth and headed off on my roundabout way to get home where dinner was waiting for me, complements of Fede.

Closed bridge

I set out on my 12 miles with a gel pack taped to my CamelBak to give me some energy for the last half of my journey. I took more or less the same route as last week until I was about to cross the river to make it to the other side of the docks. I noticed there were more cars than normal waiting and saw the row of boats heading towards the bridge. They had closed the bridge to let them pass meaning I was redirected. I did more or less the same path, but backwards. I made it back and decided to remap the run and see my pace. As it turns out, I speed up incredibly this week and ran an extra mile in 3 mins putting my pace at 9:30 min/mile, which is 45 secs faster than last week. So I'm either getting in shape or that gel pack has magic powers...

Onda Verde

Timing the green lights is not as hard as one would think. I have now discovered that if I have to wait for one light to change it's okay because I run at the perfect pace to catch the rest of them. I'm still perturbed to see the cars passing by in my route as it will affect my time, but it's reassurance that the next ones will be in my favor. Regardless with the crazy drivers here, lights don't always mean too much. Especially to the man that turned directly in my path as I ran across the crosswalk with the little walking man sign. Luckily I saw him coming or I might not be walking as smoothly right now. I even had a few supporters across the street that fired the curse words at the idiot that I was thinking as I was in a bit of shock. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I get through this training process without any accidents.

Fartleks

As I entered the loop in the Bosques de Palermo I saw a group of runners dressed in blue moving at a good pace. Shortly thereafter I heard a man yell "Pará" and the crowd slowed to a jog. I knew immediately what they were doing and the memories flooded back. I remember the 6 AM pitch-black workouts doing laps around the football field waiting to hear Coach Morgan's whistle meaning the sprint was over. That minute sprint was one that seemed to last ages, but luckily there was the recovery period to follow. As I made my 2 laps around, I watched as that group as well as another did their fartlek training. It made me really glad that I only had 6 miles instead of that torture. And as I was on the home stretch I saw the blue blob and pushed myself to beat them up the hill. It was my attempt to make me feel not as bad for not doing the fartleks.

I have also officially signed up and received my number so there's no turning back.

The motivation of being late

In accordance with my normal Monday procrastination routine, I dabbled around the house after work and mapped out my run. All the while knowing that I had to meet a friend at 8:30 to take the bus. I looked down at the clock to see it was 7:30 and sprinted out the door. I had 4 miles, which I knew would take a little over 35 minutes if I pushed myself hard. It was a cleansing run as I just kept making my legs go faster and faster. I made it home with enough time to hop in the shower while still sweating and was only 10 minutes late. Knowing that I had to go go go had me moving at record speeds. I finished my run at an average pace of just under a 9 min/mile. Nothing like the motivation of being late.

Outlook good

After last Saturday's long run my outlook on running the marathon had taken a turn for the worse. I finished dead and couldn't imagine running more than double that at one time. Once I finished today, I felt the exact opposite. I definitely knew I had just run 11 miles, but the possibility for more was out there. I had strapped on my CamelBak and set off towards Costanera Sur and Puerto Madero to get a different view of the city and water. It could have been that I knew where I was going or the sun beating down on me, but it was a great run. Slowly counting off markers as I was headed home, I got more energy as I neared. I finished with tan lines on my legs, an empty pouch of water and a tired smile on my face. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

High fives

Laura and I were set for Running Club, which is special as it's the last for the next 3 weeks. (She's leaving me to go off and enjoy the sun in the Northern Hemisphere. So jealous!) She had 5 on her schedule and I was getting in my 4. She shot off to begin her loops around the docks while I continued at my comfortable pace. We actually went opposite directions so we met up twice to give each other big smiles and high fives. You can kind of imagine it as race day although we are the only 2 participants and enthusiasts to cheer us on, but it worked well. We both finished in record times so we were very pleased with ourselves and off to celebrate at the all-you-can-eat buffet for a bottle of wine. The most important part is refueling, right?

5 miles, that's nothing!

So after adding up mileage on the weekends the weekday runs seem like a piece of cake. The first 5 minutes are a bit brutal as my legs have a bit of amnesia and sometimes it takes time for them to get back in the rhythm, but then it's back to normal. I set out for my route for a loop around the Bosques de Palermo and was surprised by the amount of people running, especially in groups. Laura and I have noticed that when there is a 10K on Sunday the people make it out for last minute training that week. No surprise that there is one this week. But it's always nice to see the park being used and people getting out the pound the pavement with me. I ran at 9 min/mile pace again so that made the run even better.

Stomach cramps

Sunday I was sick all day from either a stomach bug or food poisoning. As I ate the exact same meal as Laura I don't think it was the latter. I took today off work so I could fully recover and was feeling better in the afternoon. As I skipped a workout last week I didn't want to make it 2 weeks in a row. So I decided to attempt 3 miles even though I had 4 on the schedule. Although rough at first, I actually felt better running than I did sitting in my apartment. It was a success and I felt a lot better knowing that I got out there even though it was against the advice of others.

Does not knowing where you are going help?

I sat down on Saturday afternoon to map out my run. I had decided to sleep in as I was exhausted and was going to do the run just before the sun went down. With the help of Google Maps and its satellite view I was able to map out a route that I thought would work well. I learned a few things from this experience:
1) Don't map out a route unless you know exactly how you are going to cross the highway. (I had to climb 3 flights of stairs to get on the walking overpass.)
2) Don't decide to run through parks after dark when you are unaware if there are lights or pavement besides the road.
3) Don't map a run based on street names when you know that Argentina saves money by not always putting street signs up.
4) Running through water causes your toes to get cold as you continue to run regardless of the amount of sweat that was already there.
5) Not really knowing where you are going gets your mind off the running so maybe it wasn't that bad of a plan.
Needless to say, I got my 10 miles in and am trying to not think about future runs. I can't fathom running double of what I just ran on my own. I've convinced myself the "race" will be different as I will be doing it with others.

I'm not the only crazy one

After my day of rest, I decided I had no choice but to enter the cold. Luckily it was around 40 so much better than the day before. I put on my many layers and headed out. I have been running around a 9.5 min/mile so I assumed I would base my 5 miles on that and went out for 48 minutes. Upon finishing, I decided to check it out and found out I ran over my goal again because I actually ran a 9 min/mile. I was very pleased with myself this time as that is a step in the right direction. Perhaps it was the freezing cold weather that got me going faster. I did encounter other crazy people out getting their run in as well. I was actually surprised by the amount and even found a guy in shorts. You have to be kidding me!

BRRRR!

After all day thunderstorms on Tuesday, and I mean 24 hours if not more, today was quite chilly. It snowed in areas of the country where snow isn't overly common including 100 miles outside of the city. My coworkers swear that there were flurries mixed in the rain this afternoon although I still question that. Regardless, I got home and it was below freezing, which lead to my first day of deviating from my running plan. There was no way I was heading out in freezing cold, wet weather. So I'm bypassing my 3 miles that I should do tomorrow and run my 5 that I had scheduled for today then. Fingers crossed that we're above freezing tomorrow because I have no choice but to go out in it.

In Shape?

Today marks the start of week 5 and I have now knocked down 70 of the 420 miles on the schedule. When put like that, I haven't even made a dent. I made tracks on my new favorite 3 mile route as it seems to fly due to it's a there and back scheme. Even with the time passing fast I knew I was running. I was having to put quite a bit of effort to get them to go one in front of the other. I finished and felt I must have run longer or faster, but not enough to count. Not sure if it's the aftermath of my long run on Saturday, but I hope it's a hump I just got over.

Steam Rising

As I said I would, I mapped out my run to make sure I wouldn't go over the 8 miles marked out for me. I woke up to have my peanut butter and jelly and made a plan. I decided to see a little more of the city instead of doing laps to try and confuse myself so I wouldn't realize how long I was running. Yet it's only going to get worse. I finished my run, which took place in thick humidity that was actually mist at one point. I lucked out again as it didn't start to rain until I was done though. As I was stretching at the doorway of my building, I noticed there was steam around me. I assumed that it was my breath until I decided to hold it to test things out. As it turns out, my head was actually steaming from how hot I was. You can only imagine the amount of sweat I was covered in, right? Maybe that means I ran too fast??

Organic Gloves?

As Laura and I have different training schedules, we are still trying to get our weekly run in together. Last night I had 5 miles and she had 6 so we did the first together and then parted our ways. Mostly due to the fact that she runs about 45 secs faster than me per mile, which definitely adds up. I did my laps around the port and the still water although poorly prepared without music and my shrunken, charred gloves. Due to the amount of snot I produce while running, my gloves normally double over as a hanky so they need a washing after each outing. This can cause problems for my back-to-back days. In an attempt to speed the drying process, I placed them on the gas heater until a smell flooded the apartment. My gloves had gotten much smaller in size as well as changed colors and had quite a particular odor. They still did the job, but I think I'll be in the market for a new pair this weekend.

Street vendors and others that think they own the sidewalks

Laura and I have questioned this before, but as it happened again today it's fresh in my mind. Why do street vendors offer a runner their products? Do they think we will stop and have a look at what is being sold and pull money out of our socks to pay? It boggles my mind as I run with nothing but keys, yet I suppose they need to market their product. Maybe one day I'll stop and have a look. Due to these vendors and the majority of the population believing they own the sidewalks, it can become quite a battlefield. It never seizes to amaze me that a blockade of friends will see me coming and still walk side-by-side causing me to concede and enter the street (an even bigger war zone). One day I think I'll go out as a bulldozer and teach them all a lesson, but as for now I'll just keep swerving and dodging them.

On a brighter note, I've been quite lucky so far with the rain as it seems to know when I'm headed out. Today it rained in the afternoon, stopped so I could walk home from work and run and then picked up again to finish off the night. Talk about good luck! :)

Case of the Mondays

Mondays have to be the worst. I get home from work and procrastinate as long as possible before heading out on my run. Debated skipping or even shortening my run last night, partly in compensation for the extra I ran on Saturday. Of course once I hit the pavement, I was fine. It's just getting down the elevator that's the hard part (rather ironic actually). I set off on my 3 miles and listened to some new tunes to keep me going. Was back and done before I knew it although I did realize it as I finished up a hill. I really need to work on my planning skills.

Decision made

I set off for my 7 mile run thinking I would go for 70 minutes. So far I have based my runs on a 10 minute mile with the hope that I was going faster, but figured a little extra couldn't hurt. I went to the Bosques, then did a lap around the Japanese Gardens and was on the home stretch or so I thought. I looked down at my watch and I still had 20 minutes to go! 10 minutes maybe, but I was shocked at 20. I was convinced my watch had some sort of glitch, but as I left to run for 70 minutes and I was going to stick to it. I finished my time and was thoroughly confused. I wasn't exhausted and actually felt really good, but was dumbfounded as to what had happened. I checked it out on MapMyRun and found out I ran 7.6 miles. That at least made me feel better, but it's also motivated me to start mapping my runs beforehand. So next Saturday I'm off with a guided route.

Getting lapped

After waiting and waiting for my lunch to settle in my stomach, I headed out for my 4 miles. Today is a holiday so Laura and I moved RC to yesterday and made it only dinner and drinks instead. That could have had something to do with my stomach not being itself. I headed towards the Bosques de Palermo and decided to do a loop around the park next to it that the Japanese Gardens are in. As I made my way down the first stretch, a man running towards me passed going quite swiftly yet I didn't think too much about it. As I was turning the corner to the third stretch of the square, he passed me again and AGAIN on the fourth. Talk about running too fast! I almost put my hand out to slow him down. He'll be the one finishing the marathon in under 3, but we'll both have that great feeling as we cross the finish line knowing that we did it.

Rise and Shine

I had my first early morning run today. Had the luck of getting a really cold day, in the 30's, but was on the streets at 7:30 a.m. to get my 3 miles in. The whole time I felt like my legs were still asleep and I kept trying to push myself harder, but they didn't want to go. Afterwards, I consulted MapMyRun and found out that I had actually run a bit faster and further than I thought. Nothing like a great start to a day!

On a side note, I passed a man walking down the street peeing as he walked. A little less conspicuous I suppose, but highly uncalled for no matter the hour of the day.

Humidity

I officially had the first day of not really wanting to run. It's possible that was due to the rain that fell all day long, but regardless even in my running clothes I was lingering around the house. In procrastination mode, I asked Fede about the amount of clothes to wear and he hit the nail on the head. He said, "Doesn't really matter, you'll be sweating within minutes." Boy did he know what he was talking about (besides the fact that he knows I sweat like a pig normally). I came back after my 3 mile run soaking wet like I had just gotten out of the shower. But the point is I got over that hump and made it out into stickiness to stay in line with my schedule.

Shorts & a T-shirt

What a pleasure it was to not have to bundle up. I decided to do my Saturday run a little later in the day and was graced by weather in the 60's. Normally I would think that I was out of my mind putting on shorts and a t-shirt in that kind of weather, but the sun was there to warm me up and keep me going. I took another trip to the Bosques de Palermo and did 2 laps around the lake to get in my 6 miles. Slowly, but surely I'm building up the mileage. But to think I'm going to have to get up to 20 is quite scary.

Improvement

Running Club started with me asking Laura, "So are you going to kill me again today." It's something you would expect to hear directed at one's coach, but I was hoping I wouldn't be heaving like I was the Thursday before. We headed out on our 4 mile trek around the port and I was pleasantly surprised as we finished and I was still talking and not gasping for air. As it turns out we ran it a minute faster if not more, which was music to my ears. Nothing like a bit of improvement to keep the motivation up.

Lights out

I got home after work to find out that the electricity had been cut. Not an overly common thing, but also nothing to think twice about. The biggest effect this has is having to climb the 8 flights of stairs to my apartment. I made it up, changed and hit the streets to get my 3 miles in. All the while hoping that in 30 minutes the elevator would have its current back. I made it back to see my doorman lit by the building's lights, which instantly put a smile on my face. I got in the elevator and shut the door only to hear a humming noise when I pressed the button. If the noise wasn't enough, the doorman was shaking his finger at me as I walked out the elevator reassuring me that it was another 8 flights to a glass of water. Shortly thereafter, the lights cut again proving that the doorman had all the reason in the world to tell me to take the stairs as the elevator could have actually been a disaster zone for me.

Determining the right amount of clothes.

Layering up seems like a fairly easy thing to do. You look at the temperature reading and also think about cold you just were as you walked into the building. Based on that and the fact that the sun had been hiding all day, I put on 2 layers, not including the jacket, gloves and ear warmer. Within minutes of running, I was wishing I had opted out on some of it. I finished my run and ended up sweating more like it was a warm summer day, but have learned my lesson: think twice before bundling up.

The sun was shining.

What a difference the sun can make! Today was the first day that I had a day run meaning it was a clear blue sky with a shining sun. Even though it was in the 50's the sun makes a huge difference and made the run that much better. Had 5 miles on the schedule, which included a trip to the nearby Bosques de Palermo to join the others out running, biking and rollerblading around the lake. I've also discovered an amazing website that lets me map the run so I can measure exactly what I'm running. Can't beat that as I was just guessing the mileage before. Week 1 down, 15 to go...

Back-to-back

My running days are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. That made today the first of my back-to-back days. Thankfully it was Running Club, which consists of Laura and I, so there was no turning back. I must say that getting in shape and trying to carry on conversations is quite the challenge. I finally had her leave me in her tracks as our paces are just a tad different. All-in-all I got the mileage in so I'm headed in the right direction, but looking forward to a break tomorrow.

My legs are there.

In case I wasn't sure if my legs were still there or not, it has been confirmed. The effects of starting back up on Monday is evident. Rather nice to have that sore feeling to know that I am doing something to use those muscles. Day 2 consisted of about 15 laps around the plaza near my place dodging the ever so present dog crap that accumulates on the sidewalks. Thank goodness for ear warmers and gloves!

And I'm off...

After a long internal battle, I have set my mind to running the full 26.2 miles of a marathon. And today, the training officially started. I've been on a 3 week break, which means tomorrow I will feel all the muscles in my legs. Between my break and the 50 degree weather, my body was definitely asking what I was doing. Although, It's great to have set the goal and started taking the steps to one of my personal goals in life. I just hope that along the way I don't get discouraged or smack the wall that I know is going to hit without getting over it. Wish me luck!